Electric steam boiler



Aug. 24, 1926. 1,597,362

, A. HENRIKSSON ELECTRIC STEAM BOILER Filed Dec. 11, 1923 2 Shets-Sheet. 1

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062 HF/Z/ZZZSSOIL Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,597,362 PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST HENBIKSSON, OI GOTTENBORG, SWEDEN.

'nmc'rnrc arm 301mm.

Application filed December 11, 1928, Serial Io. 880,002, and in SwedenDecember 12,1922.

The present invention relates to electric steam boilers of the kind inwhich the heating is effected by one or more electrodes arranged in theboiler and the water serving as a resistance for the heating of thesame.

For increasing the output of the boiler, there has been pr osed to alterthe concentration of the sa t in the water, since the conductivity ofthe water within certain limits is increased with increased saltconcentration.

These proceedings have proven to be un-' economical in the use ofboilers of the construction heretofore known, since the reducing of thesalt concentration of the water has necessitated the removing from theboiler of a comparatively great portion of the total volume of thewater.

The invention has for its main object to overcome this inconvenience andwith this and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafterdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings showingdiametrically some embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: 4

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the steam boiler according to oneembodiment;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same boiler; v

Figure 3 is a vertical section;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the steam boiler according to asecond embodiment;

Figures 5 and 6 are similar views of a steam boiler according to a thirdembodiment; and,

Figure 7 is a vertical section of an automatic valve.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, 1 denotes avertical cylindrical boiler. In compliance with this invention, there isarranged in the upper portion of the boiler, a receptacle or chamber 2,from which depends three tubes 3 tapering in the direction downwards andclosed at their lower ends. The tubes at their lower ends communicatewith a pipe 4, whereas the upper ends communicate with the receptacle 2.The numeral 5 indicates electrodes provided in the tubes 3 andelectrically connected with the conductors 6. The electrodes 5 aresurrounded by insulating members 7 in the form of tubes of porcelain orother suitable material, placed within the tubes 3. The feed water isapplied mto the pipe 4 through the pipe connection 8 by means of acentrifugal pump 9. The water space of the boiler 1 is, by means ofplpes 10 and 4 connected with the interior of the tubes 3. From thesteam space of the receptacle 2, a pipe 11 leads whereby the steamgenerated may be carried adjacent the bottom of the boiler 1. The steamenters the water of the boiler through a set of nozzles 12 and ascendsthrou h the water into the steam space of the oiler, from which thesteam is discharged through a conduit 13. The water space of the boiler1 furthermore, through a pipe connection 14, communicates with the feedwater piping 8 on the suction side of the pump 9. The numeral 15 denotesa discharge pipe for the water in the boiler 1.

The pipe connections 8, 10, 14, and 15 are each provided with aregulating valve 16, 17,18 and 19 respectively and by preference, workautomatically. Such automatic valves may be of the construction shown inFigure 7.

In the Fi re 7 of the drawings, 20 denotes the va ve proper, having thespindle 21 connected with a piston 23 movable with- 111 a cylinder 22.The lower portion of this cylinder 22 is, by means-of a channel 24,connected with a'fluid pressure pipe 25 and by means of a channel 26,with a discharge pipe 27. The upper portion of the cylinder 22 is, bymeans of channels 28 and 29, connected with the pressure and discha-rgepipes respectively. By means of a valve 31 controlling the pressure pipe25 and actuated upon by an electro-m'agnet 30, the pressure medium ispermitted to enter into the cylinder, either through the channel 24 or28, whereby the piston 23 is moved so as to shut or open the valve 20.The electromagnet 30 simultaneously actuates the valve 32 adapted to puteither the channel 26 or 29 in connection with the discharge pipe 27thus allowing the pressure medium to escape from the side of the piston23, which for the occasion is not in connection with the pressure pipe25.

The difierent 'electro-magnets of the valves are controlledautomatically by the water levels and steam pressure in the boil er inthe following manner:

In the electrical circuit including the electro-magnet of the valve 16of the water feed piping, there is arranged a circuit closing device 33,which causes the valve to open when the water level within the chamber 2drops below a certain level.

The elcctro-magnet of the valve 17 in the pipe connection 10 is includedin an electrical circuit, which may be closed by a deviqe influenced bythe pressure in the boiler, for instance, a pressure gauge 34, so thatthe valve 17 is opened When the steam pressure in the boiler has beenraised to a predetermined degree.

The pressure gauge 34 is also adapted to close a circuit to theelectro-magnet of the valve 18, when the pressure in the boiler has beenreduced to a certain degree, whereby the valve 18 becomes opened.

The electro-magnet of the valve 19 is arranged in a circuit in whichthere is included a circuit closing device 35 influenced by the waterlevel in the boiler 1, so that the valve 19 is opened when the waterlevel exceeds a certain maximum.

The operation of the-electric steam boiler above described is asfollows:

After water has been supplied to the water space of the bolier 1 to thelevel shown, the electric current is supplied to the electrodes 5. Bythe resistance of the water, the latter is heated, whereby steam isproduced in the tubes 3, and arises to the steam space of the receptacle2, from which the steam, through the pipe 11, is conducted down into thewater space of the boiler 1. The arising steam heats the water in theboiler 1 and finally, it is discharged through the pipe 13. Provided thefeed water contains a certain quantity of salt as is the case whenundistilled water is used, the salt concentration of the water in thetubes 3 and the receptacle is augmented in the same degree as steam isproduced, whereby the conductivity of the water and consequently thesteam generation, is increased. When the steam generation exceeds thesteam consumption, the steam pressure in the steam boiler is increased.At a certain steam pressure, the pressure gauge 33% closes the circuitof the valve 17 in the pipe connection 10 so that the said valve isopened. On account of the resistance offered by the nozzles 12, a highersteam pressure will be presented in the receptacle 2 than in the boilerproper. By this pressure difference, the salt-containing water from thesteam generator 2 and tubes 3 will be discharged through the pipe 10into the boiler 1. When the water level in the steam generator has beenlowered to a certain point, the contact device 33 becomes operative, sothat the feeding valve 16 is opened. Thus, the salt concentration in thesteam generator 2 and tubes 3 is reduced and the electric conductivitylowered so that the steam generation is diminished. If the steampressure in the boiler should fall below a certain value, the pressuregauge 34 will close the of the steam generator and its communicationwith the boiler proper above described, the alteration of thesalt-concentration in the steam-generator is effected rapidl and theloss of hot water is greatl r uced.

It is'notneoessary that the va ves 16, 17,

18 and 19 be provided so as to operatesutomatically, they may bearranged to be manually operated, if so desired.

The valves 17 and 18 also may be re lated automatically, by means ofsuita le devices, with respect to the consumption of electric power, insuch a manner that the said consumption is held between certain maximumand minimum limits.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, which isintended to be used for comparatively lower electric tensions, differsfrom the embodiment previously described in that the electrodes 5comprise flattened rods fitted in the tubes 3 and cooperating each witha contra-electrode 5 insulated from the electrodes 5,

and of the same shape as the latter.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, which is adapted to beused for high electric tensions, the'steam-generator receptacle 2 andthe tubes 3 communicate with a receptacle 2 placed on the bottom of theboiler 1. By means of a pipe connection 1 and a circulating pump 36, thewater from the receptacle 2 is caused to be sprayed downwardly by thestrainers 37, to the electrodes 5 in the tubes 3. In this construction,the strainers 37 serve as con tra-electrodcs.

The remaining details in this embodiment of the invention, in allessential points, correspond with details described in connection withthe Figures 1 and 2, and are indicated by corresponding referencecharacters; accordingly, a particular description thereof isunnecessary.

It is of course understood that the invention is not confined to theembodiments thereof described and shown in the drawings, but which comewithin the scope of the appended claims, for instance, the steamgenerator or chamber 2 may be arranged exteriorly of the boiler insteadof being arranged within the boiler as disclosed in the drawings.

I claim:

1. A11 electric steam generator comprising a boiler, a steam generatingchamber of a small size in relation to said boiler, electrodes arrangedwithin said chamber, a water feed piping connected to said chamber,means of communication between the steam space of said chamber and thewater space of said boiler whereby the trion of steam generated may beefiected there between and means wherebgethe transmission of water maybe efiected tween said boiler and chamber.

2. An electric steam generator comprismg a boiler, a steam generatingchamber of a small size in relation to said boiler,

electrodes arranged within said chamber, a water ,feed piping connectedto said chamber and boiler, means of communication between said boilerand chamber whereby the transmission of water may be efiectedtherebetween and means of communication between the steam space of saidchamber and the water space of said boiler whereby the steam generatedin said chamber will be caused to pass through the water of said boiler.

3. An electric steam generator comprising a boiler, a steam generatingchamber of a small size in relation to sai boiler, elec-. trodesarranged within said chamber, means of communication between the steamspace of said chamber and the water space of said boiler, a pipeconnection between the water space of said chamber and said boiler, andregulating means in said pipe connection adapted to regulate the watersupply from said chamber to said boiler.

4. An electric steam generator comprising a boiler, a steam generatinchamber of a small size in relation to sai boiler, electrodes arrangedin said chamber, a steam pipe leadin from the upper end=of said chamberan communicating with the lower end of said boiler, a ipe connectionbetween the water ace 0 said boiler and the lower end of sai chamber,and regulating means in said pipe connection ada ted to regulate thewater supply from sai boiler to said chamber.

5. An electric steam generator comprising a boiler, a steam generatingchamber of a small size in relation to said boiler, electrodes arrangedin said chamber, a water feed piping communicating with said chamber anboiler, a ipe connection between said boiler and sai water feed piping,and regulating means in said pipe connection ada ted to regulate thewater supply from sai boiler to said chamber.

6. An electric steam generator comprising "a boiler,

a steam generating chamber of a small size 'in relation to said boiler,electrodes arranged in said chamber, a water feed piping connected tosaid chamber, a

pipe connection between the water space of said chamber and said boiler,and regulating means in said pipe connection adapt ed to be controlledby the steam pressure in the boiler, whereby to automatically controlthe flow of water from said chamber into said boiler when the steampressure has attained a certain degree.

7. An electric steam generator comprising a boiler, a steam generatinchamber of a small size in relation. to sai boiler, electrodes arrangedin said chamber, a water feed piping connected to said chamber, a pipeconnection between the water space of said boiler and said chamber, andregulating means in said pipe connection adapted to be actuated by thesteampress'ure in said boiler so as to automatically allow water to passfrom said boiler into said chamber when the pressure has been reduced toa certain degree. 7

8. An electric steam generator comprising a boiler having a water spacein its lower end and a steam space in its upper end, a steam cratingvchamber of a relatively small size arranged within the steam space ofsaid boiler, a plurality of tubes communicating with and depending her,an electrode arrange within each tube, water feed piping communicatinwith said chamber, boiler and lower ends 0 said tubes and means ofcommunication between said chamber and boiler whereby the steamgenerated may pass therebetween.

9. An electric steam generator comprising a boiler having a water spacein its lower portion and a steam space in its upper portion, a steamnerating chamber arranged within said oiler, electrodes arranged withinsaid chamber, water feed pipin communicating with the lower end 0 saidchamber and the water space of said boiler, a steam pipe. leading fromthe steam space of said chamber and communicating with the water s aceof said boiler, and a steam outlet pipe eading from the steam space ofsaid boiler whereby the steam nerated within said chamber will be causeto pass through the water within said boiler before passing through saidoutlet pipe.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

AUGUST HENRIKSSON.

from said cham-

